Conkbayırı Atatürk Victory Monument

Since the Gallipoli Peninsula is an open-air site, spring and autumn months are more comfortable for both temperature and walking. In summer, shade decreases on the hill during midday, so it's a good idea to bring water. Official ceremony programs are held in the region on March 18 (Çanakkale Victory) and August 10 (Anafartalar Victory) commemoration days. The area around the monument gets crowded on these dates, so it's best to go early.

Conkbayırı is located within the borders of the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park, in the Eceabat district. From Çanakkale city center, you can take a ferry to Eceabat and then reach it by private car or tour minibuses. It is difficult to go independently by public transport. Since it is visited along with other martyrs' cemeteries and monuments in the region (Martyrs' Memorial, Kabatepe, Arıburnu), most visitors prefer a day-long guided tour.

Upon arriving at the monument, you can first go to the main platform where the statue is located, and then immediately to the Nazif Çakmak Martyrs' Cemetery in front of it. The four cannonballs and plaque marking the spot where the shrapnel hit are a few minutes' walk from the monument. On the same day, the Martyrs' Memorial and Kabatepe Martyrs' Cemetery can also be added to the route to create a half-day Gallipoli tour.

This is still a battlefield and a martyrs' cemetery. It is expected to speak softly and behave appropriately around the monument. Since the ground is uneven in some places, choose comfortable shoes. There is no suitable infrastructure for visiting with a wheelchair or stroller, as the rugged terrain does not allow it.

Shots taken from in front of the bronze monument, with the Dardanelles in the background, stand out. The tree-lined courtyard in the martyrs' cemetery and the traces of the trench lines also offer details reflecting the historical texture. The afternoon light falls softer on the west-facing side of the hill.

On the morning of August 10, 1915, Anafartalar Group Commander Colonel Mustafa Kemal personally led the bayonet charge at Conkbayırı. This charge secured a critical point of the Ottoman defense line and became one of the moments that influenced the course of the war. Visitor comments frequently emphasize that this moment symbolizes military genius and the resilience of the Turkish soldier. Many travelers state that seeing the trenches and standing at the place where the event occurred leaves a different impression than reading about it in books.